The Cuban fencer Yordan Ferrer published a reel on Instagram in which he directly and humorously explains the fundamentals of sword fencing, demystifying the image that cinema has created about this sport.
In the just over one-minute video, Ferrer begins with a statement that summarizes his purpose: "Fencing is not just what you see in movies where swords clash like crazy. No, no, no. It's more like chess. But they can also stab you if you let your guard down."
The athlete explains that in the épée category, the entire body is a valid target and points are scored only with the tip of the weapon: "With this, you only touch with the tip. In this weapon, touches to the hand, knee, foot, and even to the face count."
Ferrer also debunks the myth that physical strength is decisive: "It's not about who is the strongest here, but about who can deceive better, that is, the one who waits half a second longer, the one who makes you think they are going for your leg when they are actually going for your shoulder."
Regarding the sensations of sports, the Cuban hides nothing: "It hurts, I'm not going to lie, but when you make a clean thrust and feel that... It's a sensation you wouldn't trade for anything."
The video concludes with a message that champions Latin American fencing: "If you thought this was only a European affair, I want to tell you that in Cuba and throughout America, we practice fencing with tremendous heart."
Ferrer, specializing in individual and team foil, competed in the Pan American Games of Santiago 2023 and participated in the continental Olympic qualifying tournament in San José, Costa Rica, in April 2024, where he was eliminated in the first round, failing to secure a spot for Paris 2024.
Their commitment to promoting fencing on social media comes at a time of pronounced decline for the sport in Cuba.
The last Cuban Olympic podium in fencing was the bronze medal in team épée at Sydney 2000.
In Paris 2024, Cuba did not win any medals in fencing and recorded its worst Olympic performance overall since Munich 1972.
The migration of athletes and coaches has exacerbated that setback.
Historical figures such as Rolando Tucker, a legend of Cuban fencing, emigrated in 2001 and is currently training at the University of Notre Dame in the United States.
Camilo Bory Barrientos, fencer with 42 international medals passed away on September 28, 2025 in Italy, where he had been training since 2008.
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